The Sugar Snake and Me

Posted on October 2, 2010 by a moment with god — 2 Comments

The Sugar Snake: Photo by Greg Maxwell

Good Morning, God!

Sandy is in the air flying to Australia to meet Dave — and I am Tutu in Charge — in a house of sleeping grandsons. How fortunate I am, God, to have this gift of time with them. Yes, God, I felt Your Nudge. This is a Time of Multiple Growth Opportunities. And my failures will be used as well as my successes — and You’re right — I may not be able to tell which is which.

Yesterday I took Ian for a “treat” at the Cold Stone Creamery. Ian ordered a small cup. And, God, I heard myself say: “That looks so small, Ian. What about getting a medium?” I knew he would order toppings and I thought they would fall off the small. (I know, That is NO EXCUSE — but I wanted to be “loving.”) Such is the POWER of the SUGAR SNAKE! Later in the car I said, “YOU WERE RIGHT, IAN — small would have been better.” And he agreed.

Thank You, God, for giving me the IMAGE of the Sugar Snake! I can FEEL her coiled in my belly — wanting to be fed — and feeding my Conscious Mind all sorts of rationalizations and “reasons” WHY I DESERVE SUGAR. Somehow this slight disassociation between Me and The Sugar Snake really helps me resist feeding her.

It has been a full week now since she has been fed. Still, “she” had no trouble getting me to order a medium (huge!) ice cream for Ian — and, God, I really do NOT want to confess this — I asked them to put in a third oreo cookie. (I hope Suz is not reading this!!!!)

When I look in the mirror, I can “see” Her coiled up in my belly. Still strong — and waiting. Thank You, God, for helping me to “see” the “Sugar Snake” as part of my Powerful Reptilian Brain.

Tagged with: I most helpful image -- The Sugar Snake
Posted in authority over my life, being a Slow Learner, courage to see myself, family visits, Help me to see, images, interspecies contact, Mistakes, processing on deeper levels, Queen of my Life

An Earth-Like Planet? Really?

Posted on October 1, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A Comparison Chart of Earth and Gliese 581 From: the Star Advertiser

Good Morning, God!

An earth-like planet, God? The astronomers up at Keck Observatory are certainly excited! And It would be exciting to have another planet like earth out there. Given just HOW MANY galaxies there are — and HOW MANY STARS are in each galaxy — I’ve sort of assumed there HAD to be other Earths. Well, perhaps it isn’t purely a matter of numbers. After all I was raised on Science Fiction — raised on stories featuring Extraterrestrial Sentient Beings.

While it would be discombobulating to meet Sentient Beings from Outer Space — I think it would be just awful to be the ONLY intelligent life in the Universe. Home, ALONE? Gosh, God, it would make me work MUCH HARDER to get our beloved planet, Earth, back in balance if we were all there was! Hmmm.

But, back to Gliese 581g. While I am sure the University of Hawaii astronomers deserve to be excited — and this planet may well have life on it — I’d be amazed if Gliese 581g had life like us on it. Imagine a year of less than 37 days? Imagine a planet that only has one side facing the sun? Imagine a planet with 3 to 4 times the mass of Earth? Now THERE are CHALLENGES! Not to say, God, that You couldn’t create life suited to those conditions.

When Kit was a little boy — without benefit of a Science Fiction background — he wondered if there was like us life on other planets. He thought there very well might be and he asked his father if Jesus would go and visit those people, too. I think that is an amazingly wonderful insight, God! Because You do LOVE YOUR CREATION — ALL OF US — ALL OVER THE UNIVERSE.

Posted in A God given diversity, Life on other planets, LOVE, reframing

Tucson Skies — And a Tutusaurus Visits

Posted on September 30, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

A Tucson Sky

Good Morning, God!

This was the sky that greeted me as I rode off from the Tucson airport with Sandy! So Beautiful! I love Your Clouds, God. Of course, they are more colorful at Sunrise and Sunset. But I find white clouds and sunlight more than glorious!

However, the idea of a sunrise did get me UP and I am now sitting with my laptop and coffee — Sandy just gave me a lesson on their new espresso maker — out on the front porch enjoying watching the sun rise.

At the moment it is merely waiting for the sun to rise. The last bat has swooped by off in the distance and voices are starting to come from neighboring homes. The coffee is bitter, but being here is sweet.

A Tucson Sunrise

It just hit me, God, that visiting our daughters by myself — I ENTER their Worlds. When Kit and I visit together it is more a matter of being in TWO WORLDS. Kit anchors me in the World our OUR GENERATION. This morning, God, I can almost grasp the fact that these are Different Universes — not unlike how Kit and I walk hand in hand through separate Gender Universes. Most amazing!

It is really when I interact with Mark that I “get” just how different our Universes are. Mind You, God, Mark and I are very similar. Yet our Worlds have spun apart. He is determined to bring me UP TO SPEED — or at least to bring my laptop and iPhone up to minimum standard!

Aah! The Intertwined JOYS and ANGST of being IMPROVED! How wonderful it is to be loved! Thank YOU God!

Tagged with: An Intergenerational Visit
Posted in A God given diversity, adjusting, appreciation, attunement, connecting, family visits

Unexpected Delights — And an Appreciation of PLAY

Posted on September 29, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Good Morning, God!

Perhaps delight isn’t quite the right word to describe my quick interaction with a HUGE touch screen billboard at the airport — but I confess, it is close. I saw this coming off the plane from Honolulu and I had stopped and touched each door.

A huge interactive touch screen billboard at LAX

I smiled as each “door” opened to a “scene” in a hotel room. Ah, an ad for Marriott hotels! Then upon touching the last door there was an explosion of “paper” and it was an ad for letting Xerox manage your paper. Such FUN! So passing it while leaving LAX I reached out and touched each door again — being rewarded by new scenes.

Looking into the opened door

An ad as PLAY! It brought to mind the European cities that used PLAY as a way to get people to recycle. Play is such a basic component of Humans, God, I marvel that it is so seldom put to ingenious uses.

PLAY! What a powerful tool to recreate the World — AND myself.

Kit is good at making GAMES of purposeful endeavors — like losing weight. He enjoys it, God! I guess I never “GOT” that self denial — or more softly, self management — is an important part of playing a game. Actually, it is the idea of PAIN or INJURY TO SELF that I never got — in fact, still haven’t gotten.

But I have used the idea of SCORING to help me make personal changes. Some years ago it came to me that I could reframe and organize my life into a number of games. And no one need know the Games OR how I keep score! 500 points? 5,000? Please help me, God, learn to USE Your Gift of Play!

Posted in delight, Play, Progress and our Change in Focus, Queen of my Life

Driving UP to Granada Hills — and BACK in Time

Posted on September 28, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Suz's flourishing maidenhair fern

Good Morning, God!

For the last three mornings this marvelous maidenhair fern has been what I’ve seen while I sipped my coffee and chatted with Suz. Yesterday (the HOTEST day of the year) the sunlight was just pouring through it. I am certain that a million dollar piece of art couldn’t seem more beautiful or more soul satisfying. Thank YOU, God! Thank You for ferns and for sunlight — and MOST of ALL for daughters.

This morning I’m flying off to Tucson and leaving LA with dear friends unseen — which makes me wistful. But I will be flying off to see beloved daughter, Sandy and grandsons Ian and Mark. Alas, Dave has already flown to Australia. Aaaah, God. The joy of daughters!

The Hill behind Granda Hills

I have had such a good time with Suzanne that I can’t say I would have done anything differently. Yesterday we made a sentimental journey up to our old home in Granda Hills. I was taking photos as we were talking about all our neighbors — talking about the changes to our yard — the removal of her grapefruit tree she had bought with her allowance being the only really “sad” moment.

We drove to the elementary school and wondered if children walk to school today, or are they driven? The homes and hills looked very much the same — but childhood has changed considerably. I remember my childhood which seemed to consist primarily of playing outside — roller skating around our block, bicycling and playing Kick the Can — playing with neighbor kids. Imagine, God. No play dates, no Wii, no Nintendo. No computers even! Yet, even to my Geek eyes, it was a lovely Time.

Posted in daughters, Light shining through, time, Transitions

A Day in L.A. — Context and Connections

Posted on September 27, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Palm, Moon and Blue Sky in L.A.

Good Morning, God!

Suz is editing; it is too early to call Kit; and I am marveling at how FULL a day can be! Last night I fell into bed and was asleep before even saying Good Night to Suz. Yesterday was a day FULL of Activities and FULL of WORDS! Suz needs a “broadband” connection to transmit all the data her mind generates.

This morning was begun with “coffee tasting.” Taste tests didn’t exist in my life until Kit. At least I have no memory of my family tasting and comparing. Hmmm. Is it that Kit — and now Suz — have more sensitive taste buds? They both have more sensitive noses! And Kit surely has more sensitive light gathering capacities — making him Mr. Bat to my Ms. Moth.

Individual differences abound and yet , for the most part, remain unseen. Seeing is so often a matter of chance. Or, God, do You intervene from time to time? Yesterday morning, as I was typing away I noticed a reflection in my computer screen of the palm and moon visible behind me — out the west facing window. I was enchanted! The iconic palm of Los Angeles — the moon so visible even in daylight — and the glorious blue sky of Fall.

The Sun, Moon and Stars are reassuring elements in my life. They add perspective to my view of our world. To me, the Heavens DO declare Your Glory, God.

And I do so treasure setting my life and world in the CONTEXT of Your CARING. Let me see. How did Jesus sum it up? You should love the Lord your God with all your Heart, Mind and Strength — and Love your Neighbor as you Love Yourself. Good words, God, good words. And, yes, God, I did notice that I am to love myself!

Tagged with: In what CONTEXT do we set our lives?
Posted in background / foreground questions, connecting, daughters, Filling up my suitcase and my days, Heavens declare the Glory of God, listening, self care as self compassion and humility, setting my life in context

A Woman’s Day: The Farmers’ Market, Then Clothes Shopping

Posted on September 26, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Good Morning, God!

Here I am in L.A. — curled up in bed — waiting for Suz to announce Time for Coffee Tasting. Such a lovely way to stat the day! Mind you, God, I miss sipping coffee in bed with Kit as we chat away. But how fortunate I am to have TIME with beloved daughters!

Purslane

Yesterday, thanks to Suz, I ate purslane for the very first time. I knew of it — knew how high it is in omega 3 and vitamins and minerals — but I had no idea how to prepare it or where to get it. We found it at the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market — two big bunches — almost the last of the season as frost does it in.

Suz pulled off the small succulent type leaves and chopped them with garlic and mixed it with yogurt (as a binder) and a little sea salt. I was SO SURPRISED, God, at how MY BODY LOVED IT! It wasn’t so much the taste — which was merely pleasant — as it was my Body RECOGNIZING it as NEEDED and LONG AWAITED. Quite a surprise, God! And, YES, I have to get the seeds and grow it at home!

But yesterday wasn’t just about nourishing foods. It was also about Nourishing Friends. We met Renan at the market — she had called Suz to say Crenshaw melons were in and she asked Rocky to hold two for us. Then that afternoon we drove up to Silverlake to visit with Susan and off we three went — shopping at Mimo’s in South Pasadena.

Aaaah, God! The joy of “mother daughter” shopping! We women ARE the Gatherers. Off we go with our inner “String Bags” to see what we can bring home. The three of us — plus Mimo, the owner, and Pam (another regular) all interacting and bonding as we experienced clothes as expressions and creators of “alternate selves.” Thank YOU, God!

Posted in a series of molts and upgrades, accepting my ability to REDESIGN, acknowledging another's existence, appreciation, attunement, being together in a compassionate presence, daughters, friends, Fun, gender universes

The Unexpected Strikes Again

Posted on September 25, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

A four terminal line for the Agricultural Inspection at United

Good Morning God!

Yesterday morning — was it JUST yesterday? — Kit and I had what we laughingly call a “personality transfer.” My flight was to leave at 6:40 a.m. so I thought I should get to the airport by 5:00 and we should leave around 4:30 a.m. Kit, usually the most “fail safe” minded man imaginable, said “Oh no, if we leave at 5:00 that will get you there with plenty of time.” I — last minute Molly — said I really thought I should get there earlier than that.

We compromised on leaving at 4:45 and I got to the airport at 5:09 — only to see a line that went on and on and on — just to go through the agricultural inspection. YIKES! I almost didn’t believe it. I wanted to go to the front of the line to check. But the line was growing longer by the second, so I hurried down to the end.

There were two flights to the mainland — my 6:40 one to LA and a 7:00 one to SF. Then there was a 10:45 a.m. flight to Narita. E GADS! The passengers for that flight had arrived at 5:00 and were stretched out in front of me FURTHER than my eye could see. Thank goodness I had checked in AND paid for my bag at home! I got to my gate 10 minutes before the doors to the plane shut!

Yes, God! Life is full of the unexpected. People show up WAY TOO EARLY and others cut it a bit close. Life seems by it’s very nature jerky. I’ve always thought Ogden Nash summed it up best in his light verse: Catsup, catsup, hit the bottle — none will come, and then a lottle.

So, God, yet another lesson to plan ahead and leave plenty of margin in our lives. And as best we can, to plan for the unexpected.

Posted in Possibilities, time, Transitions, useful worrying?

FLYING OFF — with a Full Moon — to be with Family and Friends

Posted on September 24, 2010 by a moment with god — 1 Comment

Moon over the Marina

Good Evening, God!

Tomorrow I fly off to Grandson Sit and be with Daughters and then classmates at my 50th Stanford Reunion. It is a BIG DEAL for me to leave my Mom for six whole weeks! But she has Kit for the first half and Dave and Barba for the second. She is in Your Hands, God.

It is a good thing, God, to only be able to be in one place at a time. Hmmm. Well, with emails and phone calls I guess we sort of are in more than one place at a time. My Mom wants me to EMAIL every day. As she said, “I can REREAD emails.” That’s true. But I prefer VOICE as there is so much emotional information encoded in the voice.

I’m blathering, God. I’m excited to go. I love my daughters, grandsons and Dave, my son-in-law. I WANT to see them. I want to be THERE at the same time I want to stay HERE. I will be away from Kit for 3 whole weeks. The longest time in 51 years. Aurgh!

I AM packed . . . except for the computer . . . which will BE packed as soon as this has been posted. I’m smiling, God. I am traveling with one laptop, an iPhone, and iPod classic and an iPod shuffle. But no iPad. But, Hey! I’m managing!

Tomorrow morning the full moon will be setting just a bit later than it did this morning. We should get a good view as we drive to the airport. Please, USE this time, God. Use it for YOUR purposes. Help me be AWAKE and AWARE and ALIVE — responsive to You, others, and my own self. Thank You for this TIME APART from the routine.

And AGAIN, God, please take good care — of everyone here — of us all.

Posted in a series of molts and upgrades, being repotted, Choosing to respond, connecting, connections, Conversations, friends, listening, living within limits

The True Work of the Church

Posted on September 23, 2010 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Dancing Flames from a tiki torch at the Shack in Hawaii Kai

Good Morning, God

I still remember when I first read Acts 2:2-4 — about the COMING of the Holy Spirit. I felt as if my whole being were reverberating. I was like a BELL struck by the TRUTH of what I had just read.

“Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”

God, we have Your Word through Jesus saying that where two or three are together in his name HE is there. This week I have twice been given the gift of being together in Christ’s name and praying together for one another.

It was not top down. It was not one “needy” person coming for healing. It was three needy people (I was number 3) coming together to speak and hear the “truth” in LOVE — AND YOU WERE THERE!

As we finished up with hugs and tears – is that WHY men aren’t generally CALLED to this? — it HIT ME! THIS IS THE TRUE WORK OF THE CHURCH. Preaching and Bible Study and Worship are all wonderful — but they are to prepare us for Your Spirit — prepare us to PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER — prepare us to open ourselves to the cleansing and healing of Your Holy Spirit.

Now, God, I don’t want to complain — but I have to ask You — WHY isn’t this kind of Prayer common? Not just prayer by professionals or trained experts — but prayer by and for all of us ordinary broken people — prayer that connects us to YOU and to one another.

Tagged with: If we all had friends we could call to pray with us this would be a different world
Posted in being together in a compassionate presence, letting the Holy Spirit flow through us, Prayer